Rex Ryan improves to 6-0 in games coaching against his brother, Rob.
The New York Jets executed their game plan to perfection in a big upset win over our New Orleans Saints. They executed the three different aspects of the game that they are best at: running the ball, stopping the run, and getting pressure on the quarterback. Those three aspects made for a perfect storm that the Saints simply could not weather.
Drew Brees had probably his second worst game of the season, behind his performance in Tampa Bay. He threw two interceptions, but in reality probably could’ve thrown more. Brees’ throws were behind his receivers all day, having a bunch of near misses. He finished 30/51 for 381 yards with 2 touchdowns and the 2 interceptions. Brees was sacked only two times, but he was hurried and hit over 10 times throughout the game. The protection was pretty good in the first half, but the Jets’ defensive line simply wore down the Saints’ pass blocking and gave them nightmares in the second half. To go along with their sacks and hurries, the Jets also forced numerous holding calls as part of the Saints’ 9 penalties for 59 yards.
New Orleans continued their trend of getting out to a slow start, wasting a couple of nice defensive stands. Their first drive had promise, but ended with a bad miss on a 43 yard field goal by Garrett Hartley. On their next drive, a poorly thrown ball by Brees resulted in a Jets interception that gave them great field position in Saints’ territory. New York opened the scoring with the first of four Nick Folk field goals. The Saints answered with a 6 play 81 yard drive on a 51 yard touchdown pass from Brees to Jimmy Graham. Graham caught a second touchdown midway through the 2nd quarter and was the only Saint to find his way in to the end-zone.
New Orleans led 14-6 until New York scored two late first half touchdowns that were set up by a big kick return from Joshua Cribbs and Brees’ second interception in his own territory. Chris Ivory and Geno smith both found their way in to the end zone on rushing touchdowns, giving the Jets a surprising 20-14 halftime lead.
New York opened the second half with a short drive that resulted in Folk’s third field goal of the day. Geno Smith scrambled for 6 yards after being dead to rights about 5 or 6 yards in his own backfield, but the Saints let him get away. The Jets still faced a 4th down, but it was a 10-12 yard swing that was huge in Folk’s 47 yard field goal that barely got over the crossbar.
Garrett Hartley surprised everyone on the next drive when he answered Folk’s field goal with a 55 yard strike, a career long. The two kickers traded field goals once more in the fourth quarter, with the final scoring play of the game coming when the Saints had to settle for a 43 yard field goal from Hartley with 3:06 to go. On the play previous to the field goal attempt, Brees had Meachem for a first down, but another bad pass resulted in the incompletion and another stalled drive.
On the Saints’ possession before Hartley’s second field goal, they gave the ball away on downs in one of the most frustrating sequences I’ve watched as a Saints fan. New Orleans faced a 3rd and inches and for a second appeared to have picked up the first down on a quick handoff to fullback Jed Collins, but the officials called the play back due to New York calling a timeout. After that, Drew Brees ran a play action and threw probably his best pass of the day right in to the hands of a wide open Collins in the flat, but Collins tried to run before he had the ball and dropped an easy first down. Now facing a 4th and inches, Coach Sean Payton called a very questionable play that left just about everyone scratching their heads. He ran a play action, end around to 3rd string tight end Josh Hill that didn’t fool Jets defensive end Quinton Coples, which resulted in a loss of 8 yards and the turnover on downs.
Fast forwarding back to after Hartley’s field goal, the Saints defense held strong again on a quick three and out, getting the Saints the ball back with 1:58 to go at their own 19 yard line. They had a chance, but New Orleans went backwards, losing 9 yards on 4 plays to erase any hopes of a comeback. Brees had completed a nice looking pass to Nick Toon on 2nd down that would have been a 16 yard gain, but Brian De La Puente was called for holding, backing the Saints up to their own 10, essentially killing any realistic chance that New Orleans had.
It was a tough, frustrating game to watch as New York beat the Saints with their patented “Jets Football”. It was clear that Geno Smith wouldn’t have beat the Saints with his arm, finishing 8/19 for 115 yards. New Orleans sacked him twice, but forced a lot of pressure that caused him to miss on many of his throws. Sloppy play from the offense allowed the Jets to get the lead and they controlled the game with Chris Ivory and the rushing attack, while giving Drew Brees fits on the other side of the ball.
Brees’ two interceptions were the only turnovers in the game, which drops the Saints to +6 in turnover differential for the season.
Stats
Saints
Drew Brees – 30-51 / 381 yards / 2 TDs / 2 INTs
Pierre Thomas – 6 carries / 24 yards / 7 receptions / 66 yards
Jimmy Graham – 9 receptions / 116 yards / 2 TDs
Robert Meachem – 4 receptions / 93 yards
Lance Moore – 6 receptions / 70 yards
Curtis Lofton – 12 tackles
David Hathorne – 8 tackles / 1 sack
Junior Galette – 2 tackles / 1 sack
Jets
Geno Smith – 8-19 / 115 yards / 6 carries / 18 yards / 1 rushing TD
Chris Ivory – 18 carries / 139 yards / 1 TD
Greg Salas – 2 receptions / 57 yards
Week 10
The Saints will return home for a nationally televised game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football a week from today. The Cowboys pulled out a last minute victory at home against the Vikings to improve to 5-4. New Orleans falls to 6-2 heading to next week with their once big division lead down to one game.
Hang in there Saints fans. Trust in Drew Brees and Sean Payton. They’re good at what they do. Keep an eye out for our Grades/Saints and Sinners article coming within the next day or two. And as always…
Who Dat?!
